Mawson Lakes vs Pooraka

Mawson Lakes is the younger of the two, with a median age of 33 against 38 in Pooraka. In both, most households own their home and most homes are detached houses. In Mawson Lakes, about half of households are couple families. Pooraka is closer to the city centre: 13.3 km, against 15.2 km. On these figures, Mawson Lakes tends to suit young adults.

Which one suits you?

There is no overall winner — the suburb that suits a family with school-age kids is routinely the wrong one for someone commuting into the city. So each of these answers its own question, against a checklist you can see, using the same figures in the tables below.

Families with school-age kids

Mawson Lakes

ahead on 3 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more parks and reserves (14 vs 3)
  • has more schools rated above their peers (1 vs 0)
  • carries lower crime risk (73/100 vs 84/100)
  • But Pooraka has more separate houses rather than flats (86% vs 66%)

Weighs schools, house stock, crime, parks, childcare, and who already lives there.

First-home buyers

Mawson Lakes

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has cheaper units ($530,000 vs $590,500)

Weighs house prices, unit prices, land prices, and mortgage stress.

Renters

They split

one each way, out of the 3 things we measure here

  • Mawson Lakes leaves renters under less rental stress (19% vs 24%)
  • Pooraka has cheaper rent ($300/wk vs $360/wk)

Weighs rent, rental stress, and how much is for rent.

Commuting to the city

Mawson Lakes

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • is more walkable (84/100 vs 63/100)

Weighs distance, drive time, and walkability.

Downsizers and retirees

Mawson Lakes

ahead on 4 of the 5 things we measure here

  • has more GPs (6 vs 2)
  • has more units and townhouses to downsize into (34% vs 14%)
  • is more walkable (84/100 vs 63/100)
  • But Pooraka has more residents already 65 and over (18% vs 8%)

Weighs smaller dwellings, who already lives there, GPs, walkability, and crime.

Investors

Mawson Lakes

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • returns a higher gross yield on houses (4.3% vs 3.8%)

Weighs house yield and population growth.

Where they sit

Mawson Lakes and Pooraka drawn to the same scale. Both outlines are shown together, so the map answers whether they share a border and how their areas compare.

Mawson Lakes Pooraka
Hides rows where both suburbs match

Bars start at zero. Scores, risks and rankings are drawn against their full 0–100 range; other rows are drawn in proportion to the larger of the two.

Side by side, out of 100

Risks are inverted — shown as safety and low exposure — so a longer bar always means better.

Mawson Lakes Pooraka
Walkability 84 / 63
Mawson Lakes — Walkability: 84/100 Pooraka — Walkability: 63/100
Safety 27 / 16
Mawson Lakes — Safety: 27/100 Pooraka — Safety: 16/100
Low fire risk 100 / 100
Mawson Lakes — Low fire risk: 100/100 Pooraka — Low fire risk: 100/100
Low flood risk 16 / 21
Mawson Lakes — Low flood risk: 16/100 Pooraka — Low flood risk: 21/100

Demographics

Mawson Lakes has more residents (13,794 vs 7,583); Mawson Lakes has higher household incomes ($100,880 vs $63,700).

Mawson Lakes Pooraka
Population 13,794
+45% vs other
 7,583
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +3.7% +4.9%
Median age 33 38
Median household income $100,880/yr
+37% vs other
 $63,700/yr
Median weekly rent $360/wk
+17% vs other
 $300/wk

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Mawson Lakes Pooraka
0-4 6.1% / 6.5%
Mawson Lakes — 0-4: 6.1% Pooraka — 0-4: 6.5%
5-14 12.5% / 11.7%
Mawson Lakes — 5-14: 12.5% Pooraka — 5-14: 11.7%
15-19 6.1% / 6.0%
Mawson Lakes — 15-19: 6.1% Pooraka — 15-19: 6.0%
20-24 9.5% / 6.7%
Mawson Lakes — 20-24: 9.5% Pooraka — 20-24: 6.7%
25-34 19.3% / 13.8%
Mawson Lakes — 25-34: 19.3% Pooraka — 25-34: 13.8%
35-44 16.9% / 13.6%
Mawson Lakes — 35-44: 16.9% Pooraka — 35-44: 13.6%
45-54 12.4% / 12.1%
Mawson Lakes — 45-54: 12.4% Pooraka — 45-54: 12.1%
55-64 9.0% / 11.8%
Mawson Lakes — 55-64: 9.0% Pooraka — 55-64: 11.8%
65-74 5.4% / 9.8%
Mawson Lakes — 65-74: 5.4% Pooraka — 65-74: 9.8%
75-84 2.0% / 5.9%
Mawson Lakes — 75-84: 2.0% Pooraka — 75-84: 5.9%
85+ 0.8% / 2.0%
Mawson Lakes — 85+: 0.8% Pooraka — 85+: 2.0%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (19.3%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Mawson Lakes 45.3% couple families
Mawson Lakes — Couple Families: 45.3% Mawson Lakes — Lone Person: 30.9% Mawson Lakes — One Parent Families: 13.4% Mawson Lakes — Group Household: 8.6% Mawson Lakes — Other Families: 1.8%
Pooraka 39.0% couple families
Pooraka — Couple Families: 39.0% Pooraka — Lone Person: 36.4% Pooraka — One Parent Families: 18.3% Pooraka — Group Household: 4.5% Pooraka — Other Families: 1.8%
Couple Families Lone Person One Parent Families Group Household Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Mawson Lakes 39.6% renting
Mawson Lakes — Owned Outright: 17.8% Mawson Lakes — Mortgage: 42.6% Mawson Lakes — Renting: 39.6%
Pooraka 30.5% renting
Pooraka — Owned Outright: 33.9% Pooraka — Mortgage: 35.6% Pooraka — Renting: 30.5%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

Highest non-school qualification, residents 15+, 2021 Census.

Mawson Lakes Pooraka
Bachelor Degree 17.9% / 9.1%
Mawson Lakes — Bachelor Degree: 17.9% Pooraka — Bachelor Degree: 9.1%
Certificate III & IV 11.4% / 14.1%
Mawson Lakes — Certificate III & IV: 11.4% Pooraka — Certificate III & IV: 14.1%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 7.9% / 5.9%
Mawson Lakes — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 7.9% Pooraka — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 5.9%
Postgraduate Degree 8.8% / 3.8%
Mawson Lakes — Postgraduate Degree: 8.8% Pooraka — Postgraduate Degree: 3.8%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 1.9% / 0.9%
Mawson Lakes — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.9% Pooraka — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 0.9%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (17.9%).

Where residents were born

Largest overseas birthplaces, as a share of all residents, 2021 Census. A dash means that country is not among the suburb's own eight largest.

Mawson Lakes Pooraka
India 8.7% / 6.4%
Mawson Lakes — India: 8.7% Pooraka — India: 6.4%
Vietnam 3.4% / 6.0%
Mawson Lakes — Vietnam: 3.4% Pooraka — Vietnam: 6.0%
England 3.7% / 3.3%
Mawson Lakes — England: 3.7% Pooraka — England: 3.3%
Afghanistan 1.5% / 4.1%
Mawson Lakes — Afghanistan: 1.5% Pooraka — Afghanistan: 4.1%
China 3.6% / 1.0%
Mawson Lakes — China: 3.6% Pooraka — China: 1.0%
Philippines 1.7% / 1.9%
Mawson Lakes — Philippines: 1.7% Pooraka — Philippines: 1.9%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (8.7%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Mawson Lakes 66.5% houses
Mawson Lakes — Houses: 66.5% Mawson Lakes — Townhouses: 17.9% Mawson Lakes — Flats / Apartments: 15.6%
Pooraka 85.7% houses
Pooraka — Houses: 85.7% Pooraka — Townhouses: 12.5% Pooraka — Flats / Apartments: 1.8%
Houses Townhouses Flats / Apartments

Property market

Mawson Lakes Pooraka
Median house price $880,000 $825,000
Median unit price $530,000 $590,500
Median land price $845,000 $815,500
Typical days to sell (houses) 23 days
from 119 sales
 16 days
from 64 sales

Unit price by bedroom count

Only bed counts both suburbs published enough sales for. Sale counts are shown because the buckets differ in depth.

Mawson Lakes Pooraka
2 bed $525K / $561K
Mawson Lakes — 2 bed: $525K (95 sales) Pooraka — 2 bed: $561K (19 sales)

95 vs 19 sales

3 bed $555K / $698K
Mawson Lakes — 3 bed: $555K (15 sales) Pooraka — 3 bed: $698K (6 sales)

15 vs 6 sales

House price by bedroom count

Only bed counts both suburbs published enough sales for. Sale counts are shown because the buckets differ in depth.

Mawson Lakes Pooraka
2 bed $602K / $609K
Mawson Lakes — 2 bed: $602K (19 sales) Pooraka — 2 bed: $609K (11 sales)

19 vs 11 sales

3 bed $810K / $811K
Mawson Lakes — 3 bed: $810K (115 sales) Pooraka — 3 bed: $811K (101 sales)

115 vs 101 sales

4 bed $1.11M / $910K
Mawson Lakes — 4 bed: $1.11M (66 sales) Pooraka — 4 bed: $910K (40 sales)

66 vs 40 sales

Zoning mix

Pooraka has more industrially zoned land (39% vs 8%); Mawson Lakes has more commercially zoned land (17% vs 1%).

Mawson Lakes Pooraka
Residential 51%
same for both
Industrial 8% 39%
Parks and recreation 25% 8%
Commercial 17% 1%
Zoning sets what may be built, not what is there today. A single address can sit in a different zone to the suburb around it. Zones as at 2026-09.

Development activity

Mawson Lakes Pooraka
New dwellings approved 949
across Salisbury
same for both
Approvals change year on year -30%
same for both

Gross rental yield

Gross — before strata, rates, management, insurance and vacancy. From median advertised rents and median asking prices over the last 6 months. How we calculate.

Mawson Lakes Pooraka
Houses 4.3%
$680/wk on $820K
 3.8%
$600/wk on $820K
Units 5.1%
$545/wk on $555K
 —

Ranking within SA

Mawson Lakes Pooraka
House price Higher than 43% of SA Higher than 30% of SA
Income Higher than 80% of SA Higher than 32% of SA
Schools —
same for both
Walkability Higher than 95% of SA Higher than 85% of SA
Affordability Higher than 82% of SA Higher than 42% of SA
EV adoption Higher than 78% of SA
same for both
NBN connectivity Higher than 82% of SA Higher than 80% of SA
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 80% of SA Higher than 42% of SA
Rental yield (units) Higher than 75% of SA —

Liveability

Mawson Lakes scores higher overall (56 vs 29); Mawson Lakes is more walkable (84 vs 63).

Mawson Lakes Pooraka
Grade B D
Score 56/100 29/100
Socio-economic band advantaged area
decile 8/10
 below-average income
decile 2/10

Risk profile

Pooraka carries more crime risk (84 vs 73).

Mawson Lakes Pooraka
Bushfire None
0/100
same for both
Crime High
73/100
 High
84/100
Flood High
84/100
 High
79/100
Coastal erosion None
0/100
same for both
Aircraft noise High
83/100
 High
70/100
Industrial facilities nearby 23
within 5 km
 22
within 5 km

Schools

Mawson Lakes Pooraka
Inside the suburb 2 1
Rated above peers 1 0
Rated at peers 1
same for both
Rated below peers 0
same for both
Universities within 10 km 1
Adelaide University, Mawson Lakes Campus, 0.0 km
 1
Adelaide University, Mawson Lakes Campus, 2.0 km
Full-time students aged 15–24 5.0% 2.6%

Schools in Mawson Lakes

  • Endeavour College Independent · Secondary above peers
  • Mawson Lakes School Government · Primary at peers

Schools in Pooraka

  • Pooraka Primary School Government · Primary at peers

Amenities in the suburb

Mawson Lakes Pooraka
Supermarkets 2 0
Cafes & restaurants 14 1
Parks & reserves 14 3
Childcare 8 6
GPs 6 2
Pharmacies 2
same for both
Police stations 0 1
Banks & Bank@Post 0 1
Fuel stations 2 4
Waterways 5 1

Mobility

Mawson Lakes Pooraka
Walkability score 84/100 63/100
Distance to Adelaide 15.2 km
+12% vs other
 13.3 km
Drive time (normal traffic) 23 min 20 min
Public transport score 92/100
Rail · Bus
 79/100
Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 315.8
7-9am + 5-7pm
 189.8
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 0 min
scheduled, not actual
same for both
Electric vehicle share 1.0%
postcode 5095
same for both
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 57
postcode 5095
same for both

How people get to work

Method of travel on census day 2021 — which fell during COVID restrictions, so working from home is inflated and every travel mode understated.

Mawson Lakes Pooraka
Car (driver) 74.1% / 79.6%
Mawson Lakes — Car (driver): 74.1% Pooraka — Car (driver): 79.6%
Worked from Home 11.1% / 6.6%
Mawson Lakes — Worked from Home: 11.1% Pooraka — Worked from Home: 6.6%
Bus 6.9% / 6.1%
Mawson Lakes — Bus: 6.9% Pooraka — Bus: 6.1%
Car (passenger) 4.9% / 6.0%
Mawson Lakes — Car (passenger): 4.9% Pooraka — Car (passenger): 6.0%
Walked Only 2.0% / 1.0%
Mawson Lakes — Walked Only: 2.0% Pooraka — Walked Only: 1.0%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (79.6%).

Setting

Mawson Lakes Pooraka
Elevation 10 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 23 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 5.0 km 6.6 km

NBN connectivity

Mawson Lakes Pooraka
Connectivity score 70/100 67/100
Most common technology Fibre to the node
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 34%
6,012 premises
 40%
3,775 premises

Climate

Mawson Lakes Pooraka
Annual rainfall 404 mm
same for both
Summer max (Jan) 30.4°C
same for both
Winter min (Jul) 6.5°C
same for both

Air quality (annual mean)

Mawson Lakes Pooraka
PM2.5 —
same for both
PM10 —
same for both
NO₂ 0.51 pphm
same for both

Council rates

Mawson Lakes Pooraka
Average residential rate $1,722/yr
same for both
Council Salisbury
same for both

Federal electorate

Mawson Lakes Pooraka
Division Makin
same for both
Member Tony Zappia
same for both
Party Australian Labor Party
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

Mawson Lakes Pooraka
Grant amount $15,000
same for both
Property price cap —
same for both
Eligibility New
same for both

Tags

Mawson Lakes

Easy Commute Middle-Ring Multicultural Parks River Transport Hub

Pooraka

Large Blocks Middle-Ring Multicultural River

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Mawson Lakes

Mawson Lakes vs Parafield Gardens Mawson Lakes vs Globe Derby Park Mawson Lakes vs Dry Creek Mawson Lakes vs Green Fields

Other comparisons with Pooraka

Pooraka vs Ingle Farm Pooraka vs Para Hills Pooraka vs Northfield Pooraka vs Walkley Heights Pooraka vs Para Hills West Pooraka vs Gepps Cross
Full data on Mawson Lakes Full data on Pooraka
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Information shown is provided as-is from Australian government and commercial data sources.
Always verify with the relevant authority before making property decisions.
See Data Sources and How We Calculate for details.

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